Viburnum plant named &#39;c.a. hildebrant&#39;s&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new  Viburnum wrightii  cultivar is provided that was created through an extensive controlled crossing and selection program using unreleased and unnamed parent plants. The growth habit is very dense and compact. Attractive dense relatively flat clusters of white flowers commonly are produced during mid-May to early June. Also, attractive red berries of unusually long persistence are formed. The cold hardiness is good. The new cultivar is well suited to provide attractive colorful ornamentation in gardens and in the landscape over an extended period of time.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Viburnum wrightii/Viburnum Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘C. A. Hildebrant's’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Viburnum plants are recognized to be a varied and diversified group ofshrubs that are widely grown to provide ornamentation. They areappreciated for their white, cream and sometimes pink spring flowers,good foliage, interesting shape, colored fruit that attracts birds, andtheir showy autumn color.

A new and distinct Wright Viburnum (i.e., Viburnum wrightii) plant isprovided that is the product of the controlled crossing and selectionprogram of Viburnum wrightii plants (unreleased, unnamed, andnon-patented in the United States) at Oldwick, N.J., U.S.A., that wasbegun in the mid-1940's. Throughout the program the progeny were studiedand were evaluated primarily for consistent berry set, growth habit, andflower production. This program resulted in the production of fifteenfield grown plants from which a single plant as described herein wasultimately selected.

It was found that the new Viburnum wrightii plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a very dense and compact growth habit,    -   (b) produces in abundance during mid-May to early-June        attractive dense relatively flat clusters of white flowers,    -   (c) forms attractive red berries of long persistence, and    -   (d) displays good cold hardiness.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom other Viburnum wrightii plants in view of the recited combinationof characteristics. The brilliant fall foliage coloration and the longlasting berry set are particularly noteworthy and provide additionalseasonal interest. In the fall the foliage commonly turns red, amber andmaroon. The plant has well withstood temperatures as low as −10° F.without harm.

The new cultivar is well suited to provide attractive colorfulornamentation in gardens and in the landscape over an extended period oftime.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar at Oldwick, N.J., U.S.A., bythe rooting of cuttings has demonstrated that the distinctivecharacteristics of the new cultivar of the present invention arereliably transmitted from one generation to another. Accordingly, thenew cultivar reproduces in a true-to-type manner by such technique.

The new cultivar has been named ‘C. A. Hildebrant's’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as true as it is reasonably possibleto make the same in color illustrations of this character typicalspecimens of the plant and plant parts of the new cultivar of thepresent invention. The depicted plants were approximately four years ofage and were growing outdoors under full sun at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 shows an overall flowering plant of the new cultivar wherein thevery dense and compact growth habit and the abundant presence ofattractive dense relatively flat clusters of white flowers are shown.

FIG. 2 shows a close view of the abundant presence of bright red berriesand the foliage during early fall.

FIG. 3 shows a close enlarged view of a typical leaf during early fall.Some bright fall coloration has begun to appear primarily on a leaf inthe background at the upper left portion of the photograph.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is based upon the observation of mature plantsof the new cultivar while growing in an outdoor garden in full sun atWest Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The chart used in the identification of thecolors is the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England.

-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 4 to 5 feet.        -   Width.—Approximately 3 feet.        -   Growth habit.—Very dense and compact.        -   Branches.—Slender, smooth, Grey-Brown Group 199C in            coloration, and commonly with approximately 4 or 5 lenticels            per cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single.        -   Quantity.—Abundant.        -   Mature length.—Approximately 13 cm on average.        -   Mature width.—Approximately 8 cm at the widest point on            average.        -   Shape.—Broad-elliptic as illustrated in FIG. 3.        -   Apex.—Generally obtuse.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—With slight crenation as illustrated in FIG. 3.        -   Venation Pattern.—Commonly with 6 to 7 vein pairs as            illustrated in FIG. 3.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and glossy on the upper surface.        -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Summer color.—Mature leaf: Upper surface: Green Group 131A.            Under surface: Green Group 138A.        -   Fall Color.—Commonly a brilliant blend of red, amber, and            maroon in October that is maintained well into November.        -   Petiole.—Approximately 2 cm in length.        -   Glands.—None observed.        -   Stipules.—None observed.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Description.—In abundance in relatively flat clusters of            compound cymes with approximately 20 to 25 flowers per cyme            that are reminiscent of Queen Ann's Lace as illustrated in            FIG. 1.        -   Flowering time.—Commonly mid-May to early June. A first            bloom has been observed on May 15^(th) with full bloom on            June 5^(th).        -   Longevity.—Approximately 3 weeks.        -   Quantity.—The number varies with the size and age of the            plant. The flowers per inflorescence commonly number            approximately 240 on young plants and approximately 550 on            mature plants.        -   Fragrance.—Sweet and musty.        -   Sepals.—None observed.        -   Buds.—Shape: narrow-pointed. — Size: approximately 0.5 cm in            length and approximately 0.2 cm in width. — Color: commonly            between White Group 155A and 155B.        -   Flower diameter.—Relatively flat compound cymes in a cluster            commonly measuring approximately 9.5 cm in diameter.        -   Petal number.—Five fused petals.        -   Petal shape.—Ovate.        -   Petal length.—Approximately 3 mm.        -   Petal width.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Petal color.—Near White Group 155D on both surfaces.        -   Stamen.—Five in number, and approximately 5 mm in length.        -   Filaments.—Approximately 4.2 mm in length and White Group            155D in coloration.        -   Anthers.—Approximately 0.8 mm in size, and regularly            arranged around the style.        -   Pollen.—Commonly formed in each flower in a minute quantity            and Yellow-Orange Group 22A in coloration.        -   Pistil.—One per flower.        -   Style.—Columnar, short and approximately 3.2 mm in length,            and White Group 155D in coloration.-   Fruit:    -   -   Bearing onset.—Commonly September to late October.        -   Quantity.—Moderately abundant as illustrated in FIG. 2.        -   Size.—Generally round and approximately 7 mm in diameter.        -   Color.—When ripe bright red, Red Group 46B, and when fully            mature darkening to near Red Group 53A.        -   Persistence.—The berries commonly are retained on the plant            for six months or more and generally longer than previously            known plants of the species.

The new cultivar has been found to grow well in U.S.D.A. Hardiness ZoneNo. 6.

No particular disease or pest problem has been encountered duringobservations to date.

The new ‘C. A. Hildebrant's’ cultivar has not been observed to dateunder all possible environmental conditions. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment,such as temperature, light intensity, day length, and other culturalconditions without variance of the genotype. For instance, leafcoloration may vary with the composition and concentration of thefertilizer that is utilized.

1. A new and distinct Viburnum wrightii plant having the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) displays a very dense and compactgrowth habit, (b) produces in abundance during mid-May to early-Juneattractive dense relatively flat clusters of white flowers, (c) formsattractive bright red berries of long persistence, and (d) displays goodcold hardiness; substantially as illustrated and described.